Auguste Rodin

Born in Paris on November 12, 1840, Auguste Rodin became one of the most important sculptors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His path was not easy at first: he struggled for recognition early in his career, but his powerful modeling of the human body and his attention to movement and emotion gradually set him apart.

Rodin is especially remembered for major works including The Thinker, The Kiss, The Gates of Hell, and The Burghers of Calais. Rather than aiming for polished perfection, he often embraced rough surfaces, dramatic poses, and incomplete forms, giving his sculptures an unusual sense of life and feeling.

He died in Meudon, France, on November 17, 1917, but his influence has only grown since then. Today he is widely seen as a founding figure of modern sculpture, and his work remains central to museums, public monuments, and the history of European art.